Torpedo-boat.



E. F. CHANDLER.

TORPEDO BOAT. APPLICATION men one. 1915.

1,266,103. Patented May 14, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wlflv 88 INVENTOR :7. wx M14 E. F. CHANDLER.

TORPEDO BOAT. APPucATmN man pic. 9, mg,

1,266,103. Patented May14,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IN l/EN TOR ED STATES PATENT OFFIQE EDWARD'F. CHANDLER, OF BROOKLYN NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHANDLER DEVELOP- .MENT CORPORATIONyA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TORPEDO-BOAT;

Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed December 9, 1915. Serial No. 65,977.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, EDWARD F. CHANnL-En, a citizen of the United States, residing in the boroughvotv Brooklyn, county of Kings,-

city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Boats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference i beinglhad to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification.

This invention pertains totorpedo vessels and the launching of torpedoes from tor; pedo carrying vessels. The apparatus embodying my inventive idea and the method of "operation set forth greatly facilitate 31C. curate torpedo shooting from torpedoplanes, {motor-boats.

submarines and all types of eraftb i about 200 ft. long and has a beam of about or ft. and although this'is-considered a comparatively small vessel, it is nevertheless several times larger-than my vessel in i 1 its preferred form. Torpedoes generally are shot from a launching tube and owing to the characteristics of the present standard type if of torpedo steering control comparative .st-bilityof the vessel upon which the torpedolguns are mounted is an important factor. Although some of the submarines from which torpedoes are launched with comparative. accuracy, are somewhat less than 200 ft. in length it is afact that comparative stability exists in such a vessel only when it is fully submerged and not a-flerted by the action of the water and it is in thls submerged state that torpedoes are usually launched.

Now it is my purpose to produce a small sub-surface vessel; in other words a vessel adapted to expose only a small part of its hull-above the waterline.

Fnrtherniore, it is my object to provide means bv which such a vessel although greatly alfiected by the action of the water,

waves, etc, is still adapted to efficiently handlewits torpedoes, and I accomplish my purpose first by providing a vessel of novel design, and secondly by prov1d1ng means whereby the gyroscope of the. torpedo cari ried by my vessel may be started spinning in advance and. released when the torpedo i is launched or disengaged from the carrying vessel. y i "Another object of mylnvention is to pro- As is well known the usual torpedo craft is specification and description is read injcon JllIlCtlOIl with the drawings herewith. in

which i Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating diag iammatically the general scheme of my vesse y- Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view adapted better to show the position of the two torpedoes;

Fig. 3 is a conventional bow elevation;

Fig. 4 illustrates a method of hanging the torpedo from the hull of the vessel.

Fig. 5 is another detail view of the same.

Fig. 6 illustrates diagrammatically the apparatus for starting the torpedo mechanism.

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the end elevation of a part of the former.

Fig. 8 illustrates schematically the torpedo mechanism and the apparatus for controlling the same. 1

Fig. 9 is a modification of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a diagram of the starting latch and gyro spinning mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that I provide for the employment of a vessel 1 of any suitable form adapted for the purpose, With which is associated means 2 for carrying externally atorpedo 3. is a member operated from inside the boat and adapted to trip the starting latch 5 of the torpedo for the purpose of launching the same upon its course. 6 is a propeller of my vessel which is operated by any suitable motive power adapted to be carried within said vessel, and 7 is the steering rudder. 8 is a conning tower. 10 is a mast which if employed is adapted to support a radio aerial 11, it being understood that it may be desirable to either equip the vessel for radio communication such as telegraphy or telephony or for the purpose ofv receiving or sending radiant energy for some or any purpose. 12 is a ventilator which may be of any suitable form and which is adapted either to furnish air to the interior of the boat or to permit air or gases to be expelled. 13 represents a gun of any suitable pattern and which, incidentally; may be located in any suitable part of the vessel. p

In Fig-. v 2:.it' will. be noted that deck-details have been eliminatech. the purpose-of this view being to show 1n a general way the position of torpedoes 3 and 3 which, as

shown, are preferably forward of amidships though no'textonding beyond the bow ofthe" vessel. The exact position. of the torpedoes, however, is optional except that as shown in Fig 3 Iprefer that they should: be. below: the. bulk. ofthe h ull ofthevessel and. hung; upon suitablemembers. 2. andv 23 l l, and=14=f represent. ribsor fins which may be. carried by the. 111111; 1' for the. purpose of prote'eting the torpedoes against collision, etc.

In. Fig. 2. is. asultable .lug or. bracket secured to tlie hull. of. the vesseLland: Lois. a 7 suitable eye member secured to thetorpedobody and. 16 is apinor bolt adapted topass through 2 and 15 for the purpose of mam;-

taining. them. together, shown; d g g In Fig. is the part attached to the. hull of the vessel l being. a partof the shell of. the hull. 1.5: is the lug, member se cured to the torpedo 3 and 16 is the pin or bolt which when in a position;substantially substantially. as

asshown. acts to hold. theftonpedo'in place.

Secured were. inside of, thehull. 1 is: a bracket 17: upon which is; hung a: bell crank 18, adapted to turn about a pinot 1.9.; -Atthe uppe n-endlf of the. bell crankt l; have-shown. for convenience afoot plate QQ-and have illustrat'edflthe lower end of the bell crank as connected. with pins 1.6.andav 21, thesaid 7 pin passing. through thehull at.22. By. thisarrangement it will be seen that by pressing.

down upon 20, pin 16 will be removed from theqtorpedoxMg thus. freeing: the' weapon withoutthe necessity of thegsamemoving.

forward as is required when. a tubeor slideway is employed I Obviously the torpedo.

when released; will fall away from: the hang ingg. means and as there. is no guiding; means the. torpedo wlllgbe released-L. instantaneously.

It will be. seenfthatthismethod of: hanging and; releasing a. torpedo is welladapted for employment, where. the; speed of; thesboat is,

thei-samevon in excess of the. speed of: the torpedo itself... Where a. torpedo tube or other, directiontmaintaining means. such as a slldeway is employed", relatlve longitudinal.

secured to apart of. the-hulliin. any convem.

ient manner and at anyf desirable pointf and adapted to swing about .a pivot Don 27-; Secured totheundensi'de of the hull is a slotted member 28 more clearly shown in '7'. Upon the torpedo is located and securely carried thereby a T-shaped member 29 "by'in'eansof which the torpedoiscarried;

I by, 28... XVhenlepe -QQS is moved to the right motion will be transmitted to lever l which .necting'lever 25 'with 24 is a connectingrod will throw the starting latcht5. backor? to;

the left. Thiswill start the. propelling mechanism.- ofthef torpedo which in turn will). cause-- the; torpedo: to." disengage itself fnom: theslide member 28, as: will be" readily. understood. The-employmentof a-.compara tively shortqslidemember-substantially as shown. ob1viates--to;- -a; very; largedegreethe. dangen ofs-the w eapon. fouling during its launching wheniopenating in 'a-heavysem. l

1211 Fig, 8,; .25, isthe slide member carried by. the hull; and-.QQI isQthe. T shaped; member} carried by the torpedo; and. bymea ns of which the. torpedois held; i-nv engagement with. the hull.- l isfaylever; locatedruponvthe 90.- I outside: of the. vessel andi iadaptedtoengage;

stanting latch 5 of the, torpedo and 2a; is a. lever located within the torpedo boat and adapted to? transmit motion to, lGVQl:.;l-. 2'? 1s iv -suitable, connecting rod linking levqer- 2 b with; lever. 25; which; is; located; within; the 1 hull. of the. vesseLa-nd. fulcrumedi at 26;

previously brought .,-out,. actuation .ofi lever.

'25 which-correspondswith lever 25 ini liigw 6, openatesatlie starting latch of the torpedo therefore when. it is desiredytoi} launch the. tonpedo. tl1is ,,-said -lever,-is jopenat'cd.

Now, if agtonped'o -of the-gstandald pat1-- I tern, is employed the-.tnipping-ofthe:-stari}:

H054 gyroscope itldoes howeven. immediately act ing latch,. do'es not instantly gun-lock the? mit motive; fluid to a. suitable engine 30. h.

cated; within the; tonpiedm for the; propulsion:

of the; same;

llhissfeature 1'; preserve with a thead'dedr improvement, however, of: ,iinme- "1'10: u

diately for simultaneously unlocking the gyroscope 31. Gyroscope:31-which is p'ref- Y erably of the electrical type such as is do scribed, and; claimed by me in my patent 2117-. plicat-ion Not. M27403: issued" Feb. 9,. 1:91 5

for. gyroscopically .controlledtorpedoes in J Which the gyroscope 1 lSi started:fspinninglprevious to thesilaamching period and: collsequentlyf may be. instantly unlocked whens even it is desiredato release 'thetorpedo without the. usual delay; of approximately onehalt seconds-which isconnnom m the i mpulse: variety of: torpedo g {I'QSQOPGS- To. illustrate the carrying outofi this feature ofv myinvention have: added an extension- 5 to the-starting; latch-.le-venffiQ 1s a hook.

-latch adaptedto:retain;my gynoscope ina locked conditionxby? holding pines inc-en- ,gagement with the gyroscope in any suitable and. wellknown manner againstthe pressune i ofspring 34.

its locked condition.

illustration 1 have shown the switch lever 36 fulcrumed at 37 and adapted to complete an electric circuit, A, B, in which -38 is a suitable source of electric current. By this arrangement it will be seen that the system may be operated as follows, 2'.e.:

When approaching the firing zone lever is moved to the left, this completes the gyroscope motor circuit thus causing current to flow and causing the gyroscope to start spinning. Now when it is desired to release the torpedo, lever 25' is moved to the right which trips the starting latch of the weapon thus starting the propelling engine and at y the same time unlocking the gyroscope which is already spinning at full speed. In some instances it may be desirable to launch the torpedo by other thanmanual means as for instance by an electromagnetic wave impulse sent out from a source other than within the a vessel or it may be desirable to accomplish the operation quickeror with reater ease than may be possible manually and al-:

though vai'iousways will suggest themselves and various methods of operation will be immediately apparent to those versed in secured to 27. 4L0 and 40 are electromag matters of this nature, I have for sake of illustration shown an electromagnetic launchmg mechanism of which39 18311 armature nets, 41 is a suitable source of electrical energy and 42 is a switch lever adapted to contact with 43 for the purpose of completing the electric circuits C, D and E. It will be understood that switch 42 may be operatedinanually, electrically or in any suitable and appropriate manner according to e the system under Whichmy torpedo boat is being operated.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate conventionally a bow elevation of my vessel of slightly modia fied form and in which the torpedoes 3 and 3 are represented as farther apart than in Fig. 3 with the consequence that greater .space is allowed each side of the extension keel or center fin 1. This permits the water to flow past the torpedoes with lessresistance and consequently permits of greater speed. I do not, however, wish to limit myself to a specific construction of my vessel but illustrate this modification for the purpose of showing the great scope of designing possibilities. It will be noted that in both Figs.

For convenience of vessel.

represent the limbs of the electric circuit 36 is pushed to the right about the center 37 thus starting the gyroscope spinning when acted upon substantially as described by member at. i i

From the above it will be seen that I provide an extremely simple and inexpensive form of torpedo boat which is well adapted to certain military and naval uses and from which it is possible to accurately despatch a torpedo even though the vessel is rendered quite unstable due to the roughness of the body of water in which it is operating.

'which is'adapted to be closed by 37 when The certainty with which a torpedo may a be despatched i 'rom my vessel, as will be H U readily understood is due to the fact that at the instant that the torpedo is properly directed uponthe target, the gyroscope may be instantly unlocked thus insuring, irrespective ofhow the boat may be rolling in the water, that thecourse of the torpedo will lie in the right direction aft-er it is launched 01' released from the said torpedo system of carrying and launching torpedoes and that the said invention provides an important improvement, therefore, in small torpedo boats in sofar as it permitsof the carrying of the torpedoes externally and also does not necessitate'the employmentof a torpedo tube.

Alsoit will be notedthat the vessel may be made so small as to be conveniently carried by a larger vessel and that in operation irrespective of whether sent out from a vessel or from a shore station its function will be to approach an enemy for the purpose of discharging a torpedo or torpedoes before the enemy can reduce or put it out of action by gun fire.

Also it will be noted that a wide choice of systems of operation is possible owing to the unique construction of my vessel and furthermore it will be seen that the said vessel may either be handled manually from It will be. seen that the invention herein described provides anew and novel Heretofore thepractice has beento employ i a torpedo gun or tube for launching torpedoes, and it will be noted that I have deout a tube or gun, operating means in said 1o 11 Tmcans simultaneously with the unlocking of steering means and effect the release of the torpedo from the boat.

a 15. Ina torpedo boat adapted to launch a Ygyroscopically steered torpedo, magnetic means for starting the torpedo propelling the gyroscope, the propelling means automatically effecting the release of the torpedo from the boat. i y

16. In a dirigible vessel, a submerged .gyrosoopically steered automobile torpedo hung only from means. above its center of gravity and adapted to receive a launching impulse from its propelling means, means operable from a remote station for simultaneously unlocking the gyroscope, starting the propelling means, and detaching the tor edo from its hanging means.

1%.. The method of shooting a self prospelled self steering torpedo, which consists f Lin spinning the gyroscope, simultaneously unlocking same and starting the propelling means to eflect the automatic release of the torpedo from the carrying means.

18. The combination with a boat, having a hull and keel of an automobile torpedo, de-

tachably secured to said hull at each side of the said keel, means for simultaneously actuating the torpedo propelling means and putting the gyroscopic steering means into operation, and effecting the automatic releaseof the torpedo.

19. The combination with a boat having a hull and keel, of an automobile torpedo secured to-the hull at each side of the keel, means for detacliably supporting the said torpedoes, and means operable Within the boat for simultaneously starting the torpedo propelling mechanism, and the steering mech anism, and efi'ecting the automatic release of the torpedo from the said attachments.

20. In combination With a boat, a gyroscopically steered automobile self launching torpedo suspended thereunder, means within the boat for placing the gyroscope in operation and subsequently effecting the launch-. ing of the torpedo simultaneously With the placing of the same under gyroscopic control.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature, this 8th day of December, 1915, in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD F. CHANDLER.

Witnesses H. L. SLOAN, V. G. WILLIS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0. 

